Yvette Baker Trophy & Shield Final 2025

Written by James Askew (NGOC) and Beatrice Waters (YBT Coordinator) .

This event was very well organised by Southdown Orienteers – very many thanks to all involved. The club were particularly keen to recreate the exciting atmosphere of the 2014 final, held at the same venue. Special thanks go to Rob and Ed Lines for their advice and help in capturing that same “good vibe” once again.

Capite Woods is a beautiful area of coppiced woodland with scattered clearings, an irregular ride and path network and two stream valleys that provide interesting contour detail. Competitors were able to enjoy a technically varied and scenic woodland experience. 

Distance judgement proved to be critical (particularly for younger competitors on the Orange and Yellow courses) as many small tracks and narrow cuttings through the trees had not been mapped, for the sake of map clarity, and some of the main paths and tracks had filled in a little from the sides and were perhaps narrower than might have been expected. It was a lovely area on a working farm with a large flat field for parking right next to the arena with all facilities, including a maze, tin can alley, Compass Point, and caterers, and the start only a flat 300 metre walk away.

Given the southern location, several clubs made full use of the on-site camping option, which proved popular and contributed to the relaxed atmosphere over the weekend.

All images from the event are credited to Rob Lines from Southdowns Orienteers. More images are available via our online image gallery. 

Six clubs competed for the Yvette Baker Trophy, while eight clubs battled it out for the for the Yvette Baker Shield. It was fantastic to see so many juniors competing with such enthusiasm and club spirit. Beyond the main courses, juniors also enjoyed a range of fun activities including an orienteering maze, crafting wool weaving mementos and a tin can alley.

Start times were predetermined in a ninety minute block so there was a lot of activity with runners still going out as the early starters were racing back into the finish in the arena, an eighty metre sprint from the final control that was immediately after climbing, or in some cases jumping, or indeed falling over a low stile. The fun atmosphere was helped by the commentary box too!

Live music and commentary from Ed Lines added to the lively atmosphere, keeping spirits high throughout the day. Traders, including Compass Point, a food truck and an ice-cream van, were well-used and much appreciated by competitors and supporters alike.

Unlike last year which took place in a terrific rainstorm, the weather this year was benign for the competitors. Although the overall scores were close once again, it wasn’t quite as tight as in 2024. Eighth place – Cornwall Orienteering Club (KERNO), 290; seventh – Suffolk Orienteering Club (SUFFOC), 383; sixth – Saxon Orienteering Club (SAX), 387; fifth – Dartford Orienteers (DFOK), 485; equal third – South London Orienteers (SLOW) + SOS, 488; second – Harlequins Orienteering Club (HOC), 493; and first North Gloucestershire Orienteering Club (NGOC) – 497 points. Therefore NGOC retained the Shield that they won in 2024.

There was a bit of an unexpected result in the Trophy with SYO, who had held the Trophy since 2017 failing to hold on to it this year. Sixth place – Norfolk Orienteering Club (NOR), 851; fifth - SYO, 870; fourth – Thames Valley Orienteering Club (TVOC), 872; third – Southdowns Orienteers (SO), 873; second – Hertfordshire Orienteering Club (HH), 877; and clear winners West Anglian Orienteering Club (WAOC), 885.

Results were speedily available, and the presentations took place, unfortunately, just as the first of the rain arrived. All in all, lots of great achievements by all the juniors and a lot of fun too. 

Thank you to all competitors, organisers, volunteers and supporters who helped make the 2025 Yvette Baker Final such a successful, vibrant and memorable event. Special mention goes to Anna Chapman for organising the event, planner Chris Hooker, controllers Mike Murray and Neil Crickmore, Dom Dakin for invaluable help with the entry spreadsheets and Joe and the SO SI team for efficient and quick confirmation of the results.

Results – Yvette Baker Shield

1st North Gloucestershire Orienteering Club (NGOC) – 497
2nd Harlequins Orienteering Club (HOC) – 493
3rd (joint) – South London Orienteers (SLOW) & Suffolk Orienteering Society (SOS) – 488
5th Dartford Orienteers (DFOK) – 485
6th Saxons Orienteering Club (SAX) – 387
7th Suffolk Orienteering Club (SUFFOC) – 383
8th Cornwall Orienteering Club (KERNO) – 290

Results – Yvette Baker Trophy

1st West Anglian Orienteering Club (WAOC) – 885
2nd Hertfordshire Orienteering Club (HH) – 877
3rd Southdowns Orienteers (SO) – 873
4th Thames Valley Orienteering Club (TVOC) – 872
5th South Yorkshire Orienteers (SYO) – 870
6th Norfolk Orienteering Club (NOR) – 851

View results

Well done to all involved in organising this year's event and to all the participating clubs. You can learn more about the Yvette Baker Trophy and Shield via this link.